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My Blog and I

My name is Diana. I am the blogger behind Offbeat Vagabond. I just
wanted something to help me rant on about things I love or don't quite
love. I am big on books, especially Urban
Fantasy, it is my favorite genre. Any Romance has to be Paranormal,
because love isn't natural without a gun and a beast involved. Although my tastes are very much expanding, I have discovered a love for Contemporary even BDSM (shocking!) I love
movies. Sci-fi/Fantasy/Horror/Action, pretty much anything as long as no
Romantic Comedies are involved (Katherine Heigl, you have been warned).
Music, TV, Wrestling are all my things as well (although I haven't been watching Wrestling as much as I used to). I am doing this for fun. I want to
write on a professional front, so blogging is a good stepping stone for
me. I just hope that stone doesn't have moss and I slip and break
something. So join me in my little piece of the Internet and remember,
it is normal to be abnormal

October Releases

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I finished this just yesterday. I couldn't put it down even if I wanted to. Ilona Andrews, you have done it again. This series gets better and better. The adventures that Daniels and Curran go through every book are so incredible and imaginative, I am still scratching my head as to why this has not been made into a movie yet.
This book starts off with Kate trying to get Derek out of a little bind. We soon find out this little issue is apart of a huge battle that can cut the city of Atlanta down to size. Our beloved Derek was trying his best to help a greedy and desperate girl escape the horrible life she chose. The girl, Livie, chose to be apart of a magical bunch of people because she wanted to be special. Unfortunately, it was more than she bargained for. She ended up working for a bunch of crazy, sadistic, stupid, and cannibalistic bunch who need to win an illegal tournament. The prize is something that puts all the of the Pack in jeopardy.
Kate thinks Derek is a lovesick puppy at first, so she is not able to help Derek when he needs it. Derek fans, I do urge you to put sharp objects away immediately. Trust me, you will be as pissed as Kate was after things go down. I'm still pissed.
I love how Andrews doesn't focus mainly on Kate, that we have a sense of all characters in the book. I love them all. I would love to see more of Raphael, he does crack me up. The story he told Kate about how his dad tried to impress his mom made me laugh so hard, there were tears coming out of my eyes.
So again, the characters, the unimaginable action, the comedy, are perfect. We get to have more of Kate and Curran. Kate seems to hate him a little less this book around. We do get a hot scene, but they didn't touch the fire (thanks Derek). Seriously, if you have not read/started this series, what are you waiting for? Get it now. Why are you still reading? I said now.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Just want to wish you all a great Thanksgiving/Turkey Day. Hope all your homes smell amazing like mine. Turkey and brown sugar glazed ham just popped out of the oven, so my mouth is watering as I type this. So for those who don't celebrate, still hope you are having a wonderful day full of smiles. And food, lots and lots of food :)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows

$16.25. $16.25 is the exact price I paid to watch absolute and total awesomeness. $11.50 for IMAX tickets + $4.75 for a hot, steamy and crispy box of curly fries. I would have gladly paid more for both because if there is one thing Harry Potter and curly fries have in common, is that neither of them left a bad taste in my mouth. I think you guys can guess what I thought of this. It was awesome!
This movie starts off with Severus heading to Lord Voldemort's "dinner" table. It was his Death Eaters were scared to bits of the guy, naturally. Voldemort wanted to know where he could get the most powerful wand and his entourage was really no help. He also kills a girl for her beliefs and lets his snake eat her. You know, classic Voldemort. Seriously, this was one creepy ass scene.
A big reason why I love Potter is that constantly, even though it's voluntary, he doesn't want anyone risking their lives for him. I love that Ron pointed this out. That it isn't mainly about Potter, that it is much bigger than him, even though he is the Chosen One. But Potter and his trusted clan are on the run. There is pretty much a ransom on his head and his friends have offered to risk their lives for him (as noted). People die this first night, then after that, there's a wedding. Yeah, didn't get that either. The wedding was so out of the blue. Never was explained. You do discover some things that were interesting, but I wish the wedding thing had a little more explanation for me. Also the morning of the random wedding, Ginny needed Potter to zip her dress (classic). They share a kiss, while Fred Weasley was watching (I wish he had more lines, he was hilarious), and that's it. This "romance" just feels a little dry to me, but I guess it has a lot to do with Potter trying to save the world and all.
So they continue the hunt for the Horcruxes (Voldemort has split his soul into seven and hidden them in objects only he know, of course). Once Harry finds these Horcruxes and figures out how to destroy them, he'll be able to kill Voldemort once and for all. So they are on the hunt and they go through some scary and/or amusing adventures. They stole some people's identities and found out a politician isn't so nice (what a shocker).
After a funny and yet scary chase, they end up hiding the rest of the film in the woods. They discover a secret about the Horcruxes that will help them. Ron has a major breakdown and leaves. This was such a weird part for me, as it was for others. Not seeing all three of them together felt weird. Potter may be the Chosen One, but without Hermione and Ron, none of the Potter films would work. They are an amazing trio and they need each other. We find that out after there was a test of Ron jealously when opening up Horcrux. Now if you have seen this, you know this scene was a tiny bit racy for the 5 year olds sitting in the audience. I know it was PG-13, but Potter is aimed at all ages. I am just saying, sometimes movie companies seem to forget who their audience is. Like I was saying, instead of Ron going on a killing rampage, he knew his best friend and girlfriend wouldn't betray him. The scene after this was quite funny to me. Young men and women in all their glory. Girls are pissed and will stay piss, even after you say something so beautiful. But like I said, having Ron there makes things 10x better. I love Ron.
Along the way, they hear a story that answers more questions than they thought. I loved this scene about the Trio of Brothers. The way they shot the story added a little more magic. It was dark, beautiful, and striking. If it wasn't Harry Potter, I would have have watched an entire film about these three. So well done. Through this beautifully told story, they find that the symbol that has been haunting them throughout the movie, is the nail on the head (or coffin as you may).
This leads to a creepy visit to Bellatrix and her dirty little clan. This leads to a scene that will effect everyone. I watched this with my younger brother and even he was effected by it, even though he is Mr. Macho.
Now if you haven't guessed, I skipped some things because I saw this a few days ago and it is not totally fresh. Also I have not read any of the Potter books. I actually got into the Harry Potter films late. My mom said it was for devil worshipers. A concept I thought and still think hilarious because (a) we do have faith in God, but we aren't religious nuts and (b) we have seen every Lord of the Rings film more times than I can count on fingers and toes and both LOTR and Potter deal with lots and lots of magic.
Overall, watch this movie. Even if you are not a huge fan in sci-fi/fantasy (shame), there is still so much you can take from Potter. It is sad, funny, dramatic, and horrific all at once. I hope that all get the chance to see this. I plan to see it again this week. I am sure I have another $16.25 to spare.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Now for those of you who are jonesing for a fix while waiting for Shadowfever. I want to remind you all of the next dates for the discussion of the series. So make sure you save bookmarks and/or highlights for the rest of the series. If you've read the series, you know there is plenty that needs to be talked about.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I know I should have posted this before, but I am finally on the computer. Today, (right now people) FictionVixen is having a discussion on the DarkFever book (Part 1 of the Fever series). Now anyone that knows me, know I am addicted to this series. The story, Barrons, action, Barrons, suspense, Barrons, other characters besides Barrons annnnnnd Barrons.
Now the discussion is open now. So if you want to get into it. Start right now. Head here: Darkfever Discussion

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that has the right amount of everything that it takes you by surprise. This is one of those books. The right amount of laughs, the right amount of action, the right amount of science fiction...just right. This book was complex and full of action. It is a book that both men and women would enjoy (yes, that is actually possible). This is one of my favorite urban fantasy series. If you read it, I guarantee you will love it.

This book starts off with Kate killing another strange creature in the middle of an alternate universe named Atlanta. Okay it is not an actual universe, it is a different version of Atlanta. This creature gets killed by someone that wasn't Kate or her partner Jim.

So after collecting her money for the kill, she goes back to the place of the kill to try and find out who killed the creature. She then ends up finding two homeless teenagers. One a boy named Red (who is a young wizard) and a young girl named Julie who Red was "protecting". Red leaves Julie behind for Kate to take care of. Kate finds that Julie is homeless because Julie's mom is missing and she has nowhere to go. In the place she is hiding, Kate finds that some sort of spell has taken place there and whatever it was, it wasn't good. While looking around they get a visit from Bran. A guy who belongs to a god and has a thing for Kate and just happens to be the guy who stole the maps the Pack has been searching for. I really liked Bran. He was a cocky thing, but he made me smile.

Kate and Julie travel more to find Julie's mom and find to figure out more what has been going on with Julie's mom's coven. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Julie's mom was a witch. Apparently her coven were following a deity who had a very interesting entourage.

While back at Kate's place, Kate find out that Julie is not your ordinary child and Red is using her to save his own skin. Along with that, Julie and Kate are being chased down by ugly creatures with wings who is being controlled by a god. So that should be easy.

This leads to a visit to the Pack's lair and a visit by the Pack leader, Curran. There is no love story quite yet between them, not yet anyway. I think she will come around soon enough, but still. A little while after the meeting, they are visited by a vampire who is controlled by a man named Ghastek, yeah Ghastek. Along the way, they find the answers they need. But unfortunately find they are in a bigger situation than they thought.
This was a fantastic book. This is a fantastic series. I would love to see this as a movie. It is epic reading that would make an epic movie. Hey Peter Jackson, where the hell are you? You need something to make up for The Lovely Bones, I suggest this. A kick ass female lead, a kick ass, hot and scary male lead, vampires that are actually grotesque and actually scary, witches, shapeshifters, and other creatures whose names I can't pronounce = AWESOME! Bottom line: BUY THIS